For Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, mental health advocate Bassey Ikpi and The Siwe Project created #NoShameDay as an opportunity for people of color to rally around mental health care.
National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month was created by author Bebe Moore Campbell. In 2008, the US House of Representatives proclaimed July as National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month as a way to improve public awareness about mental health treatment and services.
#NoShameDay and the Siwe Project aim to "widen the public dialogue regarding the lived experiences of people of African Descent with mental illness," through the sharing of stories via social media.
Daily reminder: You are enough. You are enough. You are enough. You are enough. You are enough. #NoShameDay
— Brittany Josephina (@brittanyphina) July 6, 2015
The strong black woman myth causes black women with mental illness to suffer in silence. #noshameday
— Yukio Strachan (@boldandworthy) July 6, 2015
measure in small victories: you got up outta bed. you called someone to vent or cry. you asked for help. you didn't use your AK. #noshameday
— miss hunnayyy (@huny) July 6, 2015
If somebody tells you they are suffering, acknowledge their pain. Check on them. Make sure they are ok. Don't walk around it. #noshameday
— southernbelle. (@_missEKR) July 6, 2015
Part of the problem with mental illness is we think we have to overcome it and have a super triumph story in the end. No. #noshameday
— Liberosis (@Wellspokentoken) July 6, 2015
Mental health is just as important as physical health and should not be brushed under the rug or ignored because of stigma #noshameday
— RŸ (@marytoppdoe) July 6, 2015
Use the hashtags #NoShameDay and #NoShame to join the conversation.